Gear shift lever grip for motor vehicles



May 26, 1931. c. w. BECK 1,807,369

GEAR SHIFT LEVER GRIPvF'OR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 2s, 1928 3 i 5 I i I 1 i i I fyi;

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES- PATENT Yori-Ica CHARLES W. BECK, OF TOLEDO', OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

NELLIE M. BECK, OF TOLEDO, OHIO GEAR SHIFT LEVER GRIP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application filed April 23, 1928. Serial No. 272,164.

This invention relates to attachable handle manufacture.

This invention has utility in the production of light weight conveniently gripped handles for the termini of gear shift levers of motor vehicles.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. lis a fragmentary View of a motor vehicle, showing an embodiment of the 1nvention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a distributed view of the stock herein shown as lamina or plies of wood for assembly into a major stick;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stick of Fig.

2, as assembled; Y

Fig. 4 is a perspective viewy of a blank from the stick of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 4, with the central opening of less than ferruie diameter incorporated therein, short of extending fully therethrough, but through a plurality of the plies;

Fig. 6 shows the blank of Fig. 5 with the primary ferrule assembled therewith ready for blank conversion into the finished form;

Fig. 7 shows the article of Fig. 6 as having developed thereon the elipse-of-revolution in determining the outer configuration of the grip;

Fia. 8 is a section on the line VIII, VIII, Fig. with supplemental bushing for lever sizes incorporated therein; andv Fig. 9 is a View of the ferrule for the handle or grip.

Motor vehicle 1 is shown as having gear shift lever 2 with upper threaded free terminus 3. n

In accordance with the invention herein, lamina, 4, 5, `6, 7, 8, as a plurality of plies 0 of wood are preferably, as to adjacent plies,

of dissimilar character, more particularly as to color. These plies are compacted into a major stick 9 with cement, glue or adhesive binding 10 therebetween. Such stick 45 is then severed into rectangular sections 11 as blanks for the grip or handle hereunder.

This blank 11 has centrally formed therein hole or opening 12 extending to bottom 13 short of through an outer ply of the blank Primary ferrule 14 has its outer surface Vof slightly less diameter in forming slight wall disturbance at edges 18 along the inner side of the opening 12. These edges 18 affected by the knurled or roughened surface 15 of the ferrule 14 not only supplement the gripping or binding action of the lamina or grip on the ferrule, but contribute totheinter-locking action of the different lamina with each other by the thrusting of these edge portions from one lamina into the adjacent lamina, all as supplemented'by the cement or adhesive. Additionally, the ferrule 14 as extending through the several lamini insures a supplemental physical anchoring therebetween.

In the instance of the selection of these plies herein, black walnut alternates with maple thus producing a decorative dark and light lining of the finished handle, herein shownV as in the plies extending directly' transversely of the axis of the opening 12.

With this ferrule 14 as a positive assembly with the plies of the blank, it is then in order to configure the blank by exposing the blank to turning operation herein shown as ellipsoid of revolution form in producing grip 19.v This laminated wood grip 19 may have Yinternal threading 1G of the ferrule 14 coact with supplemental bushing 2O externally, and internally threaded as assembling directly with `the external threading 3 of the hand lever 2 device.

In automobiles subjected to the vibration of travel, the freedom for operation of this lever 2 makes it generally susceptible to oscillation. In the selection of this handle or grip, as herein produced, such is in convenient full palm size for convenience in operation. It is substantial against shattering. Furthermore, a very material factor of value is its lightness of weight minimizing vibration tendencies for the lever. The stock as turned is desirably polished, and

of the gear shift may even be further treated by stain or coating for contributing to attractiveness or decorative design as may be desired.

In supplying these Wood grips in quantity, as to a motor vehicle manufacturer wherein the diameter of the threaded por tion 3 is known, the ferrule 14 may have its threaded port-ion 16 of a diameter to directly coaet With the threaded portion 3 of the gear shift lever 2, and thus make the supplemental bushing Q0 unnecessary.

lVhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A gear shift lever Wood grip comprising a plurality of lamina of Wood having a central opening through a plurality of the lamina transversely of the gra-in of' the vvoed of the lamina and short of extending through the grip, and an externally roughened internally threaded ferrule for mounting the grip, said ferrule being of larger external diameter than said `opening and being press-litted into said opening in supplementally interlocking the lamina of the grip adjacent the ferrule.

2. A gear shift lever wood grip having a central opening transversely of the grain of the wood and short of extending through the grip7 and an externally ronghened internally threaded ferrule for mounting the grip, said ferrule being of larger external diameter' than said opening and being pressfitted into said opening in supplementally interlocking of the grip adjacent the ferrule.

3. A gear shift lever wood grip unit comprising sections With the ivood grain extending in different directions, said unit having a central opening extending into the `grain of the wood and short of extending through the grip unit7 and an externally roUg-hened internally threaded ferrule for mounting the grip unit, said ferrule being of larger external diameter than said open ing and being press-fitted into said opening in supplementally interlocking by distorting portions of the ivood fiber of the grip unit in the opening adjacent the ferrule.

In witness whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES W'. BECK. 

